Quinn's administration says furloughs for state workers needed

Friday

Jul 31, 2009 at 12:01 AMJul 31, 2009 at 3:52 AM

State workers on the frontlines of government service won't be asked to take 12 furlough days but everyone else will – and they're desperately needed, Gov. Pat Quinn's administration says. UPDATED 4 p.m.

State Capitol Bureau

State workers on the frontlines of government service won't be asked to take 12 furlough days but everyone else will – and they're desperately needed, Gov. Pat Quinn's administration says.

Quinn’s chief of staff Jerry Stermer told reporters in Chicago today that the administration plans to negotiate with public employee unions on both 2,600 layoffs of workers and 12 furlough days.

Stermer says furloughs will be dependant on the assignment of each worker, and those should be determined within the next week. Furlough days for union workers have to be negotiated with their unions.

"We have to achieve those 12 furlough days. If we don't, we have to find other savings," Stermer told reporters.

Already, the main union for state workers is blasting the governor's cuts. Henry Bayer, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, says in a statement that Quinn and lawmakers are responsible for cuts that will "hurt every Illinois resident."

"The responsibility lies with every Illinois elected official and opinion maker who has opposed raising the revenue needed to avoid them," Bayer said. "Every Illinoisan must demand that lawmakers and the governor renounce these damaging cuts, commit to raising new revenue and return to the Capitol as soon as necessary to fix this broken budget."

Quinn responded that he's trying to get an income tax increase to avoid prolonged pain.

"We're all on a team here. I don't think it's real helpful to be pointing fingers at a teammate," Quinn said. "I'm trying to do the best I can."

More detail about the new budget plans for each state agency can be found at http://budget.illinois.gov/.

GateHouse News Service State Capitol Bureau

3:45 p.m.: Quinn: Even with cuts, budget has $5 billion hole

Veterans programs, prison workers and health care coverage are among deep budget cuts Gov. Pat Quinn's administration announced today, but a deficit of well over $5 billion still remains.

Quinn's office provided details about $1 billion in cuts it's making, as part of a deal between the governor and lawmakers.

More than 410 prison workers would be laid off and workers throughout state government will have to take 12 furlough days. Programs for homeless veterans and "cartage and erection of headstones" for veterans are on the chopping block, as is significant funding for the Illinois Arts Council – headed by the wife of powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Quinn and staffers told reporters in Chicago that even with these cuts and more than $3 billion in money lawmakers gave him to lessen the impact of shortfalls, there's still a shortage of $1.4 billion. Add in $3.9 billion in unpaid bills and the budget hole hits about $5.5 billion.

"We have cut from here to kingdom come," Quinn told reporters.

Quinn chief of staff Jerry Stermer noted the situation might get worse if more revenue isn't approved later in the year.

"We may have to make additional cuts as time goes on," Stermer said.

GateHouse News Service State Capitol Bureau

2:55 p.m.: Quinn outlines broad plans to cut budget

Gov. Pat Quinn today is outlining how broadly how he plans to use his budget-cutting authority, but specific cuts aren't being detailed to this point.

The governor's office released a 12-page PowerPoint presentation this afternoon that covers generally how he plans to reach $1 billion in spending cuts in the budget he and lawmakers agreed to two weeks ago.

That includes $185 million in state operations, including layoffs and furlough days, $250 million in state grants and $125 million in prison spending.

The presentation also touts how the governor plans to use about $3.4 billion in money from pension borrowing to spare and lessen other cuts in the budget.

That includes $1.4 billion for social service programs under the Department of Human Services, $272 million for programs under the Department of Children and Family Services and $150 million for education – including restoring $85 million in cuts for early childhood education.

Big shortfalls remain, the presentation notes, in Medicaid, school funding and college scholarships.

Quinn and chief of staff Jerry Stermer are expected to talk with reporters in Chicago shortly about the cuts.

GateHouse News Service State Capitol Bureau

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.